Pages

It's been close to a decade, since I actually owned a mechanical exfoliator that did something. Everything I've tried since has been a massive disappointment and then this one came along. It really is everything people say and it makes your skin feel incredibly smooth. But if you have sensitive skin and are in general a super nervous person who thinks their face will fall off if an occasional good manual scrub touches their face, just don't even consider this one because this is a very harsh sugar scrub. Yes, like those for the body, but my skin is so hardy, only heavy-duty stuff actually works and this has been the first time in years that the area around my nose and chin felt smooth to the touch. The smoothness doesn't actually last more than a day, but it's worth it and I also think other products have it easier now absorbing into my skin.

I've actually almost added this one into two of the previous monthly favourites, but I waited because I wanted to be sure this is really the reason for the better condition of my skin. This is such a wonderful product for keeping the skin clear. I won't say it has been 100% clear since I started using it, but it has been for most of the time and those spots that appeared have been small, baby blemishes which never bothered me much. Despite the name, I don't think it does much for blackheads, nor does it make sebaceous filaments pop out on their own, as I've heard some reviewers say, but it's an great, gentle BHA product that feels like a toner. My skin is looking so much better since I changed my skin care and this is one of the products I've been using the longest.

When I posted my New in, I only had this for three days, so I couldn't tell you much, but I've been using it pretty much every day since and I'm just loving it more and more. I got it as a cheaper replacement for Estee Lauder ANR and now I think it's even better, though textures of the two are not similar. This is a rich serum that if you don't use just a drop feels heavy on the skin and it's slightly sticky. It lingers on the face almost until morning, but if I use just a drop its absorbed much quicker. It works very similar as ANR on me, so my skin is clearer, more even, the texture is more refined, but the extra pluses of this serum are the healthy glow and improved elasticity. In combination with Nuxe oil, it's just perfect. The scent is amazing as it's exactly like real honey and just look at that bottle, it's a decoration in itself. As I already said in my New in, I wouldn't really recommend this to those with oily skin, unless you're prepared for a heavier, very nourishing product. This contains collagen, niacinamide, honey, propolis, several oils, adenosine and I hear also a mild and stable form of vitamin C, but there is also alcohol relatively high on the list, just to warn those who are sensitive to it.

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Matte + Poreless

110 Porcelain

I don't like to talk about products in monthly favourites before I have them introduced in New in, but for this I want to make an exception because it's been such a long time that I bought a foundation and thought "Ok, this is actually really nice". Fit Me Luminous + Smooth is a foundation that I use a lot, but just hate it - I really do because it wears horribly on me, but the shade is just perfect. That shade is 110 Porcelain and Matte + Poreless in a tube has the same name of a shade which as you can see I bought, but it's not the same colour because it is a shade darker (unlike the American version of Matte + Poreless in a bottle which is the same. Confused yet by the different versions? I can't blame you). So the shade is a bit too dark and too yellow for me, though my friends assure me it looks fine. Unlike the other Fit Me this looks beautiful on the skin - it's doesn't go patchy, flaky, it's doesn't emphasise pores, lines or uneven skin texture, but I also can't say it holds oiliness at bay that well despite having a matte finish from the start. Formula is very light, easy to blend and it has a very natural look on the skin, mostly due to only light-medium coverage which is enough for me. Basically it's a matte version of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum and so far I love it, it's one of the best foundations I own, but I've only been wearing it for about two weeks now, so my opinion could still change.

I've been on a really long break from waterproof mascaras, mostly because they are more difficult to remove and I gave lash curling a break too, but as soon as I used this again when I was taking pictures for the blog, I remembered how outstanding this mascara is. It's so much more volumising than my other mascaras and it gives me big lashes that aren't all spidery or clumped up, plus since it waterproof it hold the curl all day. This is seriously one of the best mascaras on the market.

This is my choice for a lip colour when I want something neutral that'll still give me a bit of colour. It's like a less bright pink version of Please Me by Mac, so I prefer it for my easy choice of pink and you'll notice it on some pictures when I have before/afters of foundations because it gives me some definition, plus it looks really good in pictures. This is one of my favourite lip liner formulas because it's so soft and creamy, but you can still be precise with it. I actually just went and bought shade 01 Nude Wave and now I'm thinking I should have grabbed the red one as well.

I placed this in my big brush vase otherwise known as the place my brushes go do die because I always use the same few for my face makeup which are in a different place, but I picked this up for no reason and I felt so stupid for no using it all the time. It's the perfect blush and highlighter brush for me. I have a small face, if I want a precisely placed blush, I need to use flat ones, otherwise it ends up too low and too close to the nose, so this one is so perfect for the job. It's also perfect for applying highlighter without making it as an obvious stripe of shimmer on the face. This one is so incredibly soft and it picks up the colour so well.

I didn't expect much from this mask since I bought it just because it's cute, but it was one of my favourites. It's a hydrogel one, but it's quite thick and stiff from the start, so the fact it's in two parts, comes very handy. It made my skin look a bit more even, redness was toned down and the skin looked more fresh/plump. This mask has some extra cut outs for the eyes and lips, which I used on my smile lines the next day and it definitely helped the area look more plump and filled up. Elasticity returned too, since my skin bounced back like it used to. It's super fragranced though, no other had such a strong scent, but I happen to like scented things. I just ordered the Pink Racoony patches and I just hope they arrive soon.

I loooved this one! It indeed smells like honey, though you can't smell it all the time when it's on the face, but its effects are far more important. This just made my skin look fantastic, so it has very similar effects as My Beauty Diary Black Pearl and The Face Shop Snow White in a way that the skin looks more even, with less pronounced redness, it's smooth, hydrated and happy, but this gives that bit extra and that is that it temporarily plumps up the skin and diminishes the look of my smile lines. The sheet and fit are also some of the best I tried and you have plenty of essence left for later use. I ordered almost all the different versions: Rose Gold Honey, Black Honey, Whitening Honey, Ginseng Honey and another original version (missing only Butter Honey), so I can see which one I'll like best and then I'll buy a pack of these, though these are quite expensive compared to others.

I was surprised to see these work. They aren't miracle workers, but they have a satisfying, though temporary result of diminishing the lines by plumping up the area. They are hydrogel patches so once the stick on the face, the don't start sliding off and you can do anything with them, apart from doing exaggerated facial expressions. They are quite expensive considering you only get one pair in the pack and I ordered Pink Racoony patches instead, but I would consider repurchasing these as an occasional treat.

I posted one of these in January and it included all the disappointments of 2016, but here we are in the first part of 2017 and I already have a ton more. Again I won't write which one I bought and which one was given to me because it doesn't matter (it's 50:50 for those who want to know), but please read all these disappointments posts critically. You're smart enough to recognise this is just one opinion. When I criticise a product, I emphasise it didn't work for me and most products are not bad, they could still work for a different type of either skin/hair or personal preference.

So much potential, but unfortunately this has so many faults. For one it's not actually light enough. Catrice underestimated just how pale skin tones exist and this lightener is already almost a foundation shade for some of us (it's the same as Nars' Chantilly and it's yellow toned). You can't lighten enough with something in a shade that's almost like the shade you want to get to. You need to add of the product to the foundation, not just because of the colour, but on top of that it's not even pigmented enough. The "drops" are a bit greasy, so they mess up the texture of the foundation, but its biggest fault is that they destroy the staying power of foundations. I really appreciate the effort Catrice made, as we desperately need such a product in the drugstores, but The Body Shop's are a lot better and Catrice should revise the formula.

Main problem: I don't want to say it's the worst foundation ever, but no other comes to mind.

This was just a massive fail for me. While I have combination-dry skin, matte foundations still manage to look ok on me (like the fantastic L'Oreal Infallible Matte), but this is just a tragedy on the face. It's got a dry, somewhat mousse-y texture that's very thick and hard to blend. It's a very obvious and fake foundation, which also flaked on me. The coverage itself is good, about a medium-full, it lasts all day and it is actually waterproof, but it's just so odd on the skin. The lightest shade is also very dark and orange.

Putting my dislike for rainbow trend aside, I still find this unimpressive. It's not that it's a bad highlighter, it's just if you're doing a rainbow highlighter, why include just four colours in stripes that are too wide to apply for a nice rainbow effect? The rainbow look was the whole point of the trend, right? I'm sure Essence just always intended for it to be mixed, but this way it loses some of its appeal for those who wanted a budget rainbow effect. It's also not a highlighter for those who really love a glow as it's fairly subtle, noticeable, but nothing special and I'd prefer it if the shimmer were more fine.

This swatched so beautifully and I was very excited to try it because I love a natural, more subtle glow. But this does nothing on the skin. I used it with every face brush and some thick, dense eye brushes, but it just doesn't show up. I tried it as a glowy setting powder, but it's again disappointing. So much potential, but it fails for me. Based on reviews I think other shades are ok.

Main problem: Can you just not use matte in the name if it's not matte? Signed: Everyone

These aren't bad at all, but to a matte finish lover like me they are disappointing. You don't get an M of matte finish, instead you get a comfortable liquid lipstick with a creamy shine that never sets and it transfers. All shades have a mousse formula which isn't as pigmented as their Lacquers, so two layers are needed.

Though this is completely useful, it lasts well on the lids and I love the shape of the applicator, it's the application that's just such a hassle. Even when I'm at the first eye, it simply dries up and then I need to revive it on the back of my hand, so I can draw the entire line. But here't the rub: I never heard anyone having this problem, so either mine is defective or I'm defective. After two months of everyday use, waiting for it to start working normally, I gave up and bought eyeliners from other brands.

This is just basically useless. The pigmentation is very weak and it just doesn't work at colour correction. The formula is also greasy it doesn't stick well to once place, so all you do is shift the product when you're applying it.

I wouldn't call this a bad product, just not well named and not really for me. It's not a prime or fix spray as it does neither of these things, but it adds a ton of radiance to the skin. So much in fact, only those with dry skin will love it, or those who are looking for that extra dewy finish, but it can already look oily.

I really wanted to love this, but after three weeks of using this every day, I just don't want it on my face anymore. It's so annoyingly greasy and I can feel it on my face. I even started to use a mattifying powder because it's so damn shiny and I almost never use powder. I ordered Biore, but how knows when that'll arrive. On a plus side, it doesn't irritate my eyes like Sun Dance's does, there is no white cast at all and it really protects well from the sun because despite spending hours in the sun, I didn't get burned, neither tan.

Although these redeemed themselves since I bought them, they still don't do anything they promise. They barely remove regular makeup - well they don't remove mascara and definitely don't do anything about waterproof makeup. I bought them to remove swatches, but you need to do so much rubbing.

I never had a sheet mask that would make my skin scream for a moisturiser, but that's exactly what happened with this one. I bought it because I heard it diminishes the look of fine lines, but this didn't do much apart from having a very temporary brightening effect. The sheet felt comfortable, but that's about it.

I got this because I like the classic Nivea scent, but even though I know I shouldn't expect much from a deodorant (I mistakenly thought it's an anti-perspirant when I bought it), it just doesn't work for me. It doesn't manage to keep me fresh long and yes, of course I know it won't stop sweating, but I mean in a sense than it doesn't keep me smelling fresh for long. Their Pearl & Beauty wins for me, but this is very disappointing.

Of course I knew this is just a body mist with poor staying power, but still it's just so blah. The scent is not that nice and I got it because I heard it smells like TBS Satsuma, but it's very far away from that. There is mandarin, but it's not as bright juicy and zesty, instead it's artificial. The mango bit is noticeable only in the first burst, then it's drowned it a bucket of a fake mandarin juice. Staying power isn't even worth mentioning. I use this as a room spray.

HAIR

L'OREAL Elvive Phytoclear Anti-Dandruff 1 Minute Exfoliating Scrub

Main problem: No one needs this much trouble in their life. No one.

This is the worst product on this list, by far. I could have just burned the money for this, there'd be no difference. Not only that it didn't remove the build-up on the scalp, it actually stuck to it and only added a layer of nastiness. The beads don't even wash off despite the double wash with an anti-dandruff shampoo and felt them every time I ran my fingers though my hair. I just don't recommend this to anyone.

This one doesn't do anything bad, but it also doesn't do much. Despite being a dual-phase product with oil on top, it feels like the most basic water-based leave-in conditioner. Not at all what I hoped for and what I read from ingredients. This just goes to show just how much the percentages of ingredients are important. I think it works better on damp hair before drying, but it's nothing special. I think it's so light, maybe even those with hair that gets greasy fast could use it instead of a proper conditioner just on the ends, but my hair needs buckets of oil.

I wear liquid eyeliner daily, but none has actually impressed me so much that it would be my absolute favourite which I wouldn't swap for another, so I keep trying new ones. This one came highly recommended by my two favourite bloggers, Petra and Nadja, so I my expectations were high and I really hoped this will be my favourite eyeliner ever. However, the first use really let me down and I used it on completely bare skin, so it really surprised me when in the middle of the process, it just dried up. I'm not saying it's a bad liner, but let's just say we had issues.

The applicator is the perfect shape and material for my needs. It's capable of being very precise and it's easy to use, so this is my perfect applicator. However, I can't utilise it fully because of the formula. While it's very black and pigmented, the whole thing just dries out as soon as I start with more precise work or I start on a flick and all I get is some dried up smudges. I then need to revive the eyeliner by drawing on the back of my hand to get enough of the product back on the applicator and then it works perfectly again. As you can see I managed to create a really nice flick with it, so it's doable, it just takes more time. When it was new, it got dry after every few strokes, then it got a bit better with frequent use, but it's still impossible to draw both the line and flick in one go. To save myself the trouble I started just lining my lash line with no flick. I had a similar experience with ArtDeco eyeliner which after months suddenly started working normally, so I hoped the same would happen with this one. I used Clio's every day for two months waiting for it to have a similar epiphany, but I gave up then because it just so much hassle reviving it so often and got a Maybelline one instead.

It lasts well, pretty much all day on my normal eyelids. So far I haven't experienced any transfer in my crease, but it's not completely waterproof because tears remove it, at least in the inner corners.

I bought mine on eBay for $10.06. You also get a cleansing oil with it, which works fine, but it's nothing special.

I still prefer L'Oreal's Superstar despite the bigger applicator which makes it less appropriate for more thin lines, but I really just expected more from Clio one. I don't know why it just dries out, whether the problem is my skin (maybe I'm the ultimate eyeliner destroyer. Artdeco eyeliner still puzzles me) or is it that it just dries in contact with air. It's not a bad liner and I used it daily, I just need to revive if a few times during application and I hoped for something less fickle to use. Based on reviews I read, I'm the only one who had such an issue, so it's very likely that either I'm the problem or I got a strange one and you can see on the upper picture how well it can perform, so don't be afraid to give it a try. Clio also has a felt tip version and maybe that one would work better for me.

There are a few shades in my collection that never got to be properly swatched on the blog because for years I was using only my phone camera and for a long time I didn't even venture into doing full face swatches. I had a plan to revamp some of my old reviews as soon as I get a proper camera and that's exactly what I've been doing for the past months. These first four lipsticks were bought in my bright coral phase - I wasn't the only one who had it - but now I just can't really find myself liking these shades on me, apart from the red Bourjois one, which is lovely and so comfortable on the lips.

I used to love this one, but now all that's screaming in my head is: too much of a white base. It's just soo bright, but nude - I know, weird combination and I know it doesn't look so bad, but there is something about it that's just that little bit off. The formula is one of those lip balm-lipstick hybrids, so creamy-glossy on the lips with a poor staying power, but comfortable to wear. My shade Coral Ambition is a pale peachy shade with some pink and as I said, it has a white base. Just check the swatch on the arm how bright it is, while on the lips the natural pigment tones it down.

I remember this being a love at first sight because every coral I've picked until then, turned orange on me. The quality also impressed so much at the time, as it truly was such a step up in the drugstores with its pigmented, but at the same time light formula. Fraise Remix is pinkish orange-coral shade that is a great statement summery shade for those with a warm undertone. By the way it's a dupe for Lancome Rouge in Love - 340B Rose Boudoir, which costs twice as much. Formula is creamy, nicely pigmented, basically the same as Lancome's Rouge in Love, so also comfortable to wear. Staying power is very decent for a lipstick with a creamy finish.

There used to be a bit of a hype about this shade. It was quite unique in the drugstores, still is I guess, and a popular summery shade. It's pinker than Fraise Remix with much less coral. Formula is a bit less silicone-smooth feeling than Bourjois, but nonetheless very good for a drugstore lipstick.

I neglect this one far too much. It's kind of Lady Danger's more red, sheer sister, so it's a nice warm red. Formula is super comfortable, with a semi-opaque pigmentation and for such a type of lipstick it surprisingly doesn't disappear from the lips in 15 minutes.

I didn't stop at only four shades, but I took some extra time to swatch again some other shades at which I felt the original picture wasn't good enough - not in terms of colour accuracy though, I'm actually surprised how good they were in that respect. Pictures were already added to the original posts.